Live portraits for your guests. Drawn on the day.
Charcoal and ink portraits during the celebration — found guests, finished drawings, handed over the same evening. Weddings across Kent, London, and the South East.
DURATION
2-5+ Hours
PACE
~8–10 guests per hour
FORMAT
A5 · charcoal and ink
THE EXPERIENCENot caricature. Not a photo booth. Something closer to a painting.
At some point in the evening, someone at your wedding will glance across the room and notice another guest being drawn. They'll drift closer. A small, quiet crowd will gather — not because anyone called for attention, but because something real is happening.
I work through the room the way a good host moves through a celebration — naturally, warmly, without a queue. The portrait builds in layers. The guest watches. When it's finished, it goes into an envelope — with a note in my own hand — and belongs to them from that moment.
THE PROCESS
The day, step by step.
Arrival
I arrive 20–30 minutes before drawing begins — time to walk the venue, understand the flow, find where guests will naturally gather. I introduce myself to your coordinator, and then I'm ready. No stage, no booth, no setup to manage.
Drawing
I find guests naturally — at the bar, between courses, drifting to a quieter corner. Each portrait is built in charcoal and ink, starting with overall shape and posture, then detail. Around five to ten minutes each. Guests can chat, hold a drink, turn to talk to someone — that's part of what makes the work interesting.
Handover
Each finished portrait goes into an envelope and is either given directly to the guest or kept safely for them to collect. They leave with it that night. No waiting, no postage, no follow-up.
Extras
When we deliver, it’s not just a finished product—it’s a solution you can trust, backed by real care and effort.
THE COLLECTIONS
Four collections, shaped around your day.
Each collection is built around a different rhythm for the day. The work is the same — the time and arrangement differ. Pricing is shared after a short check about your date and venue.
Glow
2 hours · single moment
Best for couples who want a concise portrait thread woven into one part of the day — an elegant slice of the afternoon drinks or a short evening presence, without needing a full portrait corner.
~12–16 portraits
Lounge
3 hours · single moment
Best for couples who want a more settled portrait corner for one main part of the celebration — a calm station where guests can drift over through the afternoon or evening.
~18–24 portraits
Presence
4 hours · two moments
Best for couples who want live portraits woven across two key parts of the day — drinks reception and the evening reception, for example — so more guests have a chance to be drawn.
~24–32 portraits
Residence
~5 hours · 2–3 touchpoints
The most considered experience: portrait moments woven across the full arc of the day, anchored by a mounted hero piece. For couples who want every corner of the day to feel looked after.
~30–38 portraits
Pricing is shared on enquiry. Start your enquiry →
THE WORKDrawn in charcoal and ink. A5. Handed over the same evening.
Each portrait is made on 300gsm cold-press paper — A5, the right size to look at properly, to frame, or to slip into a bag and find again months later. No photographic reference. Drawn from life, in the room, in front of the person.
The work sits between a quick sketch and a considered likeness. The kind of drawing where the guest recognises themselves and feels, for a moment, that someone looked carefully.
Envelope
A few ways to add to the day.
Wide-angle reception scene
A wide-angle reception scene — drawn on the day, framed as a statement piece.
Hero Illustration
A hero illustration of the ceremony setting or venue, drawn and mounted on the day.
Couples Portrait
Couple portrait, drawn quietly from a phone photo during the evening.
A post-wedding conversation
A post-wedding conversation: missed moments turned into drawings.
Often a good fit when…
Your guests are curious, warm, and happy to pause for a few minutes
The reception has a natural gathering moment where people will linger
You'd rather offer something personal and kept than something spectacular and forgotten
The tone of your day is relaxed, warm, and considered
You're happy for the portrait service to be discovered, not announced
Worth being honest about:
The couples who get the most from this are those whose guests linger — who like a conversation, who'll notice a drawing taking shape and want to watch. If every guest being drawn matters, a longer collection serves that better. Portrait counts are guidance, not guarantees — the number drawn depends on how the day flows.
Things couples usually ask.
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Portrait counts are guidance, not guarantees. Timings, flow, and quiet spells all affect output. If there are specific guests you'd like prioritised — a grandparent, someone you particularly want drawn — that's worth mentioning at enquiry stage.
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A5 (148 × 210mm) on 300gsm cold-press paper. Large enough to frame properly, small enough to slip into a bag. Each one goes into an envelope before it's handed over.
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No. They can chat, hold a drink, turn to talk to someone. Drawing people as they actually are — not as they're trying to look — is part of what makes the work interesting.
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Both. Good natural light makes portraits more beautiful, but I'm equipped for artificial light too. Unusual venue conditions are worth mentioning at enquiry stage.
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Based in Kent, working regularly across London, Surrey, and Sussex. Destination weddings have been covered before. Travel is discussed as part of the booking conversation.
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Yes — two hours (the Glow collection), prices start at £700
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Neither. Charcoal and ink portraits that are clearly of the person — rooted in their features — but rendered with a line quality that feels drawn rather than photographic. Warm, observational, and made by hand.
Tell me about your day.
I take a limited number of weddings each year. Fill in what you know — if some details are still being confirmed, no matter. I read every enquiry personally and reply myself, usually within a working day.
Wedding planner or venue coordinator? See the planning guide →